Like a River
The Lord's been showing me in a very deep way lately how submitting to His authority brings peace. Not boring peace, but peace like a wild river; the kind that brings new surprises every day. But until last night, I was wondering why things were beginning to feel "dry" again and then He showed me that I was living dry again...I was no longer submitting to His authority in the small things, and my peace that had truly been "like a wild river" was vastly evaporating.
Not coincidentally, I think it was the week after originally studying these verses I've posted below, that things got challenging; that the sifting came. I failed miserably, fell back into the same habits and patterns, and then there I was wondering when things got dry, when His Spirit left me! Hello?! I'd taken His authority into my own hands again! But praise Him for not letting me get away with it, and for waking me this morning to give me a second, harder look at these verses referenced in Beth Moore's "Breaking Free."
Thought I'd pass them on. (Don't miss the way peace is related to authority...)
"If only you'd paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea." (Isa. 48: 18)
"Now may the Lord of peace give you peace at all times and in every way." (2 Thes. 3: 16)
"For to us a child is born. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end." (Isa. 9: 6-7)
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You."
(Isa. 26: 3)
"The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever." (Isa. 32: 17)
"But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed." (Isa. 53: 5)
"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord who has compassion on you. (Isa. 54: 10)
"Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death." (Isa. 57: 2)
"Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron. Instead of wood I will bring you bronze, and iron in place of stones. I will make peace your governor and righteousness your ruler." (Isa. 60: 17)
"As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes." (Luke 19: 41-42)
"This is what the Lord says, who teaches you what is best for you..." (Isa. 48: 17)
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives."
(John 14: 27)
"Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts..." (Col 3: 15)
